Residents may request tree planting on municipal land by contacting 311. Requests will be considered for planting in a future season but are not guaranteed.
Right-of-way spaces are ideal locations for trees, providing many environmental and social benefits, such as reducing heat effects, improving stormwater management and providing enjoyable outdoor spaces for recreational use. Although trees may compete for the same space as power lines, properly pruned and managed trees pose little risk to power infrastructure.
The municipality manages tree health in our urban forest through a cyclical tree pruning program, as well as a reactive pruning program through which residents may report trees that require maintenance by contacting 311.
Tree planting supports Regional Council-approved initiatives, including the Urban Forest Management Plan and HalifACT.
Quick facts about HRM's Planting Program
- Reasons for Planting
The municipality’s annual tree planting program ensures the continued health of our urban forest and contributes to our climate action goals. Trees provide many environmental and social benefits in alignment with the municipality’s Urban Forest Management Plan. Trees are critical public infrastructure and planting trees is a key component of growing our urban forest and replacing lost canopy.
Trees are:
- An air filter for the municipality
- Our protection from heat
- Habitat for pollinators and migratory birds
- Key to combating climate change
- Integral to the health of our watersheds
- A factor in improving health and emotional wellness
- An effective traffic calming tool and safety barrier between cars and pedestrians
- Planting Under Powerlines
The municipality recognizes the importance of balancing the need for reliable electrical service with the need for an environmentally sustainable urban forest in the municipality. Planting trees near and under power lines is a function of creating and maintaining the urban forest, just as having power infrastructure in the right-of-way, in proximity to trees is a function of creating and maintaining a reliable electrical service for residents of the municipality.
While there is limited space within the road right-of-way, it is within this space that trees provide their greatest benefit, and one of the only locations within the municipality where trees are protected by a by-law, and actively maintained such that they will continue to provide these benefits long into maturity.
The municipality selects certain species, approved by Nova Scotia Power, to be planted under lines. These tree species are either small form, conducive to directional pruning, and/or slow growing, making them less likely to break in storms.
- Selection of Species
While the list of species planted on city land changes on an ongoing basis, many which are commonly selected can be found here. HRM prioritizes the planting of native species, but non-natives are included on the planting list to further diversify our urban canopy thus buffering against pests and diseases. Species requests are accepted but not guaranteed.
- Selection of Planting Locations
Planting workplans are comprised of a combination of replacement and new planting locations. Replacement trees are planted where a tree was previously removed. New planting locations are a combination of those that have been requested by the public, and areas strategically chosen by HRM staff.
- Care of the New Tree
Homeowners are asked not to tamper with the new tree unless it is for watering. The tree is under warranty by the contractor who planted it for 2 years, after which HRM assumes full responsibility for the tree. It will then be placed on our proactive cyclical pruning program for maintenance; however, residents may contact 311 at any time to report any issues with the tree.
- Work Timelines
Timeline of planting is dependent on number of requests received, budget, and weather. There is no guaranteed timeline for the fulfillment of planting requests.